Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Drawing is.

Drawing is precision.

There is something to be said for the unique ways in which
an object occupies space and one’s understanding of how to recreate those same
edges and contours onto a paper. One must learn to cast aside the ever-imposing
biases of the brain, and look instead at what is. Rather than relying on our
perceptions and preconceived notions of how lines are angled and shapes
arranged, one must force past those ideas and take the scene for what it is –
not what we think it is, and want it to be. It is a matter of staying true to
your eyes and portraying that in front of you exactly as it appears. There is
special attention to be paid to depicting an image in just the right way, as
any perceptual bias can easily distort the desired product. One must not only
have mental control over conflicting bias, but also physical control of
materials. Any tool used to create or remove value demands a certain degree of
precision. Whether drawing lines or shading spaces, one must exercise control
of how the pencil is moving, how hard one is pressing, and how much of the area
is being covered. It is one of the few things in life that can be altered no
matter how may times one may have made mistakes previously, and instead craft
the exact desired outcome.

Drawing is expression.

In a class on observational drawing, I was slightly
discouraged that we would not be able to explore more abstract or
interpretative approaches. I felt almost limited by the fact that we would be
focusing on real objects and scenes, but soon found that those concerns were
completely unfounded. Drawing from observation challenges your skills as an
artist because the visual depiction must mirror the original real life object
or scene. Anything that is not accurate is evident, whereas a conceptual piece
gives more freedom for deviation. I have also learned that drawing from
observation is not at all limiting, even though you have the material in front
of you. In a given classroom where each student has an object in front of him
or her – each identical, from the same perspective, in the same lighting –
there will be a different depiction of the object on each paper. There is
always room for personality. The ways people accentuate certain lines, the
painstaking care in which they fill in detail, the boldness of their lines, the
depth of their values. There is much for the individual to add, and there is
always room for that personal touch. There is room for expression, for feeling.
For capturing essence. This applies to both the essence of the scene and the
feeling one is trying to convey, and the essence of the artist him or herself.
In mirroring that which already exists, variety stemming from individual
projection is still present.

Drawing is therapy.

This has been by far one of the most difficult times in my
life and the times where I can sit and just sketch for hours on end are some of
the most relaxing. I find solace in the process of creating a full narrative
from what used to be a blank page, in projecting myself into my work through my
attention to detail and precision of line, in carefully tweaking an image until
it is just so. It is one of my only opportunities in life in which so much
forgiveness exists. I have the ability to constantly alter a piece until a get
it to where I would like it. It is one of the few things I know a favorable
outcome is not only possible, but also achievable. It gives me a sense of
control when absolutely everything else falls out of my hands. In life, nothing
is guaranteed. The chance to correct previous mistakes, redefine the narrative
as you wish, orchange your mind
entirely and start fresh is something that is not as easy to attain as when one
is drawing. Drawing has been my escape from all the times when everything else
begins to overwhelm me, as my full focus is devoted to that which I am
creating. It is not only a distraction where I do not think about interfering
issues, but also something in which I can actively apply myself and engage.

When asked to explain what makes it so amazing, or why I
love it so much, I can rattle off a list of qualities or feelings that I
associate with it, but at the end of the day, it just is.

1 comment:

Woah. This entire essay is so beautiful. You captured how meaningful drawing is so well. I loved this part: "It is one of my only opportunities in life in which so much forgiveness exists. I have the ability to constantly alter a piece until a get it to where I would like it. It is one of the few things I know a favorable outcome is not only possible, but also achievable. It gives me a sense of control when absolutely everything else falls out of my hands." Thank you for writing this. You articulated so well what I also experienced with drawing. You are a great writer.